Sanson resigns as Keswick Christian football coach

(L-R) Keswick football coach Rick Sanson at practice November 9, 2004. Keswick QB Blake Engelhardt and his WRs Michael Young and Tony Anderson have been scorching the school’s passing/receiving record book this season. We need a portrait of all three of them together. Also need mug shots of each one, and a mug shot of coach Rick Sanson.

Rick Sanson, who has led Keswick Christian since the program's inception in 1998, said Saturday he is leaving the school as an advance placement history teacher and no longer will coach.

"This was a decision that was strictly academic and had nothing to do with football," Sanson said. "There is a new headmaster, who is in his first year. We see things differently, and I made a decision to leave. It is not an anger thing, but it is sad to no longer be a part of the football program because I'm going in another direction."

Sanson was the coach and athletic director at Miami Christian for a decade before becoming Keswick's coach when it started football in 1998.

In 15 seasons with the Crusaders, Sanson went 69-88 and made the playoffs seven times, including from 2004-08. Last season, the Crusaders went 1-9.

Keswick athletic director Karr­mayne King said the school did not post the position on the Florida High School Athletic Association website because the administrative staff already had a few candidates in mind. The school is on spring break this week and most likely will announce a new coach the following week.

"We already had a few people in mind for the position; some that we knew, others through word of mouth," King said. "It's tough to see Rick go because he was the only football coach we've ever had and he did a good job with the program."